I guess it was just a matter of time before the power of Google Earth leapt off the computer screen to become part of a real-world (as opposed to virtual world) tool. Recently various cell phone services have begun to create mash-ups of sorts with Google Maps. But Trackstick Pro, which I stumbled across the other day in my wireless wanderings, takes this idea to a whole new level.

What is Trackstick Pro? The manufacturer (Telespial Systems) describes it as “an advanced GPS data logger capable of continuously recording its own location histories for extended periods of time.” It can log months of travel histories, with user-configurable recording intervals.

In a way, its strange how grocery stores have turned into one-stop shops for running most of your errands. Some of the larger chains now incorporate pharmacies, banks, dry-cleaners, childcare rooms, and other non-food-related resources within their walls.

Recently I was meandering down the hardware aisle in a supermarket, and noticed that they were selling portable chargers for cell phones designed to give you a little bit more juice without having to plug the phone in.

Well, to me that proved that grocery stores now truly are “supermarkets.” I mean, if I can buy cell phone accessories there, the sky’s the limit.

Yesterday in this blog, I wrote about the differences and similarities between established wireless standard Bluetooth and new-kid-on-the-block Wibree. Talk about good timing—guess what landed in my mailbox today? A report from ABI Research regarding the future of, you guessed it, Wibree.

Specifically, ABI is predicting that the market for Wibree products could be worth $513 million by 2011—if certain things happen.

If you’re planning to fly to Dubai next year on an Emirates Airline flight, keep your eyes and ears peeled for details about a new on-flight mobile phone service offered by AeroMobile (a joint venture between communications vendor Arinc and Norway-based telecom service providers Telenor).

A ComputerWorld.com report (http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1267221105;fp;4194304;fpid;1)earlier this month noted an announcement from Emirates Airline regarding plans to deploy the mobile phone service on one of its Boeing 777 planes early in 2007, assuming it can get necessary approval.

On-board phone service hasn’t been that successful to date. Boeing previously tried to get  an Internet access service called Connexion off the ground, but phased it out in August after failing to find a buyer.

Well, the Apple iPhone rumors are back. This time, word has it that Taiwan-based manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry (also known as Foxconn Electronics) received an order from Apple for 12 million iPhones. That’s the same company, InfoWorld says, that builds Apple’s iPod.

According to AppleInsider, the new iPhone rumors started with a report published Thursday in China Times.